THE KINKS RELEASING DELUXE VERSION OF ‘VILLAGE GREEN PRESERVATION SOCIETY’

Kinks fans have a lot to be excited about come October 26th with the release of the 'Village Green Preservation Society' 50th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set. The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society was released on November 22nd, 1968 -- the same day as the Beatles' groundbreaking "White Album" -- and featured such instant Kinks standards as "Days," "The Village Green Preservation Society," and "Picture Book," among others.

In the press release for the album, Ray Davies said, "I think The Village Green Preservation Society is about the ending of a time personally for me in my life. In my imaginary village. It’s the end of our innocence, our youth. Some people are quite old but in the Village Green, you’re never allowed to grow up. I feel the project itself as part of a life cycle."

Among the highlights on the 174-track box is the official release of the long-unissued track, "Time Song," which was eventually performed by the band in January 1973 at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in celebration of Britain’s entry into the Common Market. Ray Davies recalled: "When we played a concert at Drury Lane in '73 to 'celebrate' us about to join what was called The Common Market, I decided to use the song as a warning that time was running out for the old British Empire. This song was recorded a few weeks later but never made the final cut on the Preservation Act I album. Oddly enough, the song seems quite poignant and appropriate to release at this time in British history, and like Europe itself the track is a rough mix which still has to be finessed." Ray's newly mixed version of the song is also available as a limited edition seven-inch single exclusively with pre-orders of the box set via The Kinks Music Glue official store, and as a digital download single.

The deluxe box set includes "extensive sleeve notes, interviews, photography and specially created online & press content 'telling the story' of the album’s production, release and cultural impact." Also included are two essays on the album written by Pete Townshend and renowned journalist Kate Mossman.

Dave Davies told us that although his guitar work and brother Ray's songs often receive the most credit for the band's success, original bandmates, drummer Mick Avory, and late bassist Pete Quiafe, both greatly contributed to the band's legacy: "I'd like to think that maybe people would realize that the Kinks, is, and has been, and will be, hopefully, a collaboration of both talent or of creative forces."